Lens grinding device



June 5, 1962 J. c. DIPPREY l-rrAL 3,037,331

LENS GRINDING DEVICE Filed NOV. 23', 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F rn 'nn.

ATTOR/Vfy June 5, 1962 Filed Nov. 25. 1959 J. C. DIPPREY EI'AL LENS GRINDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7-+1 Vi James C". flqoprey Jane M Ja/m ner I/VVENTORJ v WM ATTORNEY United States Patent LENS GRINDING DEVICE James C. Dipprey and Jesse J. Sandifer, both of 149 Herman Professional Bldg, Houston, Tex. Filed Nov. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 854,750 8 Claims. (Cl. 51123) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a lens grinding machine.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for grinding lens, such as optical lens, in the manufacture of contact lens, providing means for single or multiple grinding having novel pivotal lens holding arms.

It is another object of the invention to provide a lens grinding device having novel means for rotating the grinding spindles in opposing directions to effect a balanced operation of the machine.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a lens grinding device having novel means for oscillating the shaft on which the lens holding arms are mounted to impart a rolling action on the lens as they are in contact with the grinding wheels.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts more particularly defined in the following specification and illus trated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the device, showing one lens holding arm in lens grinding position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the device, partially in cross section taken on the line 22 of FiG URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the juncture of one of the lens holding arms and the shaft on which they are mounted.

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of the device, partially in cross section.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, illustrating the oscillating means employed.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional rear elevational view, illustrating the gear connection for oscillation of the lens holding arms, and

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view, in cross section, taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a housing of any suitable material, the front panel 2 of which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly from a point adjacent the bottom of the housing. A lens holding shaft 3 is mounted on the panel 2 and a plurality of lens holding arms as 4, 4 are pivotally mounted on the shaft 3. Suitable supporting means as 5, 5 maintain the shaft 3 spaced outwardly from the panel 2.

Each arm 4 extends outwardly from the bearing 6 and is maintained at the desired position on the shaft 3 by means of the collars 7, 7. Suitable locking means, such as the Allen screws 8, 8 maintain the collars 7, 7 in position. The extended ends of the arms 4 are inwardly turned forming the cap receiving members 9, 9. Suitable counterbalance means, such as the members 10, 10 extend outwardly from the bearings 6, 6 and counterbalancing weights as 11, 11 are mounted on the members 10, 10, the weights 11 being movable longitudinally on the members 10, 10 to the desired position.

The panel 2 is provided with a series of ports as 12 through which the grinding spindles 13, 13 extend. Grinders 14 are mounted on the spindles 13. Suitable retaining means, as the washer and nut 15, 16, maintain the spindles 13, :13 on the housing. Pulleys 19 are mounted on the opposite ends of the shafts 18 and a motor 21 is provided with a pulley 22 and a belt as 20 is mounted on the pulley 22 and each of the pulleys 19, in

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such a manner as to rotate said pulleys in alternating directions when the motor 21 rotates the pulley 19. An idler pulley 23 is mounted on the support 24 and is provided to maintain the proper tension on the belt 20.

To provide means for oscillating the shaft 3, a gear 25 is mounted on one of the shafts 18 and a bearing 26 supports the drive shaft 27 on which the gear 28 is mounted. On the opposite end of the shaft 27 is a wheel 28 having a transverse slot 29 formed in the outer face thereof in which the guide 30 is adjustably mounted. Pivotally secured to the guide 30, as by the nut 31, is the shaft 32 which is pivotally secured at its opposite end to the shaft 3. The degree of oscillation of the shaft 3 is determined by the position of the guide 30 in slot 29.

In operation, the lens to be ground is placed in the cap 34 and the cap 34 is mounted on the end of the member 9 and placed in contact with the end of the grinder 14 and the motor started, rotating the pulley 19 and shaft 18 and spindle 13, the amount of pressure necessary for each particular lens grinding being applied through the Weight 11. The pulleys 19 are rotated in opposing directions, that is, the first, third and fifth pulley rotate in one direction and the second, fourth and sixth pulley rotate in the opposing direction, thus balancing the machine as the spindles 13 are rotated. Any one or more of the arms may be employed, so that one or more lens may be simultaneously ground. When the work requires oscillation of the shaft 3, the wheel 28 is employed, causing the shaft 3 to oscillate across the face of the panel 2, and the lens in the caps 34 will be moved across the end face of the grinders 1-4, rolling with the contour of the grinder end, the gear 28 being rotated by the gear 25, and the guide 30 being positioned in the slot 29 ac.- cording to the length of each stroke desired. The gear 28 is much larger than the gear 25 so that the oscillating action will be relatively slow compared to the speed of rotation of the spindles 13.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a lens grinding device, a housing having a lens holding arm shaft mounted thereon, a plurality of lens holding arms pivotally mounted on said shaft, spindles rotatably mounted in said housing and grinders mounted on said spindles, one end of said arms extending over said grinders, lens holding means in which lens to be ground are mounted, said lens holding means being maintained in grinding position on said grinders by said lens holding arms and means on the other ends of said lens holding arms for applying pressure on said lens during grinding operations.

2. In a lens grinding device, a housing having a lens holding arm shaft mounted thereon, a plurality of lens holding arms pivotally mounted on said shaft, spindles rotatably mounted in said housing and grinders mounted on said spindles, lens holding means in which lens to be ground are mounted, said means being maintained in grinding position on said grinders by one end of said lens holding arms, said lens holding arms being mounted in bearings on said shaft, and said bearings also having adjustable weights extending outwardly therefrom for applying pressure to said lens while being ground.

3. In a lens grinding device, a housing having a lens holding arm shaft mounted thereon, a plurality of lens holding arms pivotally mounted on said shaft, spindles rotatably mounted in said housing and grinders mounted on said spindles, lens holding means in which lens to be ground are mounted, said means being maintained in grinding position on said grinders by one end of said lens holding arms, said lens holding arms having means secured to the other ends thereof for applying a variable pressure against said lens when said lens is in contact with said grinders.

4. In a lens grinding device, a housing having a lens holding arm shaft mounted thereon, a plurality of lens holding arms pivotally mounted on said shaft, spindles rotatably mounted in said housing and grinders mounted on said spindles, lens holding means in which lens to be ground are mounted, said means being maintained in grinding position on said grinders by one end of said lens holding arms, adjustable Weights on the other ends of said arms positioned to apply pressure on said lens when in lens holding position, and means for oscillating said lens holding arm shaft when said lens holding arms are in position for maintaining said lens in contact with said grinders.

5. In a lens grinding device, a housing having a lens holding arm shaft mounted thereon, a plurality of bearings loosely mounted on said shaft, lens holding arms extending laterally from said bearings, spindles rotatably mounted in said housing and grinders mounted on said spindles, lens holding means in which lens to be ground are maintained, said means being maintained in grinding position on said grinders by one end of said lens holding arms, adjustable weights extending laterally from said bearings at a position to apply pressure to the free ends of said arms when in position on said lens holding means and variable means for oscillating said lens holding arm shaft when said lens holding arms are in position for maintaining said lens in contact with said grinders.

6. In a lens grinding device, a housing, a lens holding arm shaft mounted on said housing, a plurality of lens holding arms having one end pivotally mounted on said shaft, the other end of said arms being inwardly turned, lens retaining means mountable on said inwardly turned ends of said arms, the other ends of said arms having adjustable weights for maintaining said arms in one position under pressure, a series of spindles in said housing, means for rotating said spindles in said series in alternately opposing directions.

7. In a lens grinding device, a housing, a lens holding arm shaft mounted on said housing, a plurality of lens holding arms having one end pivotally mounted on said shaft, the other end of said arms being inwardly turned,

lens retaining means mountable on said inwardly turned ends of said arms, variable means for maintaining said arms in one position under pressure, a series of spindles in said housing, grinders on said spindles, means for rotating said spindles in said series in alternately opposing directions, said arms being independently selectively movable into lens grinding position, a wheel mounted in said housing having a transversely adjustable guide mounted in the outer face thereof, a shaft connected at one end to said guide and at the other end to said lens holding arm shaft and means for rotating said wheel.

8. In a lens grinding device, a housing having vertical Walls, a lens holding arm shaft on one vertical wall of said housing, freely rotatable bearings mounted on said shaft, each of said bearings having a laterally extended lens holding arm, a laterally extended adjustable weight mounted in each of said bearings, said arm and weight forming substantially a ninety degree angle, the extended ends of said arms being inwardly turned, lens holding means on said inwardly turned ends, rotatable spindles in said housing and extending through said vertical wall in vertical alignment and beneath said shaft, grinders mounted on one end of said spindles, said grinders positioned in said housing to be contacted by said lens holders when said arms are in one position, said Weights main taining pressure on said lens holders against said grinders when the arms are in one position and maintaining said arms and lens holders in raised position out of contact with said grinders when in another position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 970,674 Williams Sept. 20, 1910 2,247,706 Goddu July 1, 1941 2,383,501 Powell Aug. 28, 1945 2,715,803 Bronson Aug. 23, 1955 2,754,638 Duffens et al. July 17, 1956 2,822,647 Ripps et al Feb. 11, 1958 2,880,556 Schelling Apr. 7, 1959 2,916,857 Dargie Dec. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 454,231 Italy Jan. 14, 1950 

